No woman on this earth loves to get her period, unless she’s hoping not to be pregnant. Unfortunately we have to go through this annoying cycle until we reach menopause, that is just about the best thing to look forward to when it comes to reaching menopause, is no more periods yay! Menorrhagia is when your cramps and bleeding are so bad that it interferes with your daily activities. If you have heavy bleeding you might be suffering from this medical condition.

A normal period is not as bad, the cramps might be mild and the bleeding is not as heavy. The symptoms of a normal menstrual cycle are:

Your period occurs every 21-35 days

It should last between 4 and 5 days

Produces a blood loss of about 2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 44 milliliters)

Of course every woman does not have the same period, sometimes it might be lighter than usual, less painful, maybe shorter, less discomfort and easier to deal with. Now if you suffer from Menorrhagia, then the blood loss would be at least 5 1/2 tablespoons (81 milliliters). The symptoms to this condition according to Mayo Clinic are:

If you have bleeding that soaks up your sanitary pads or tampons every hour

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Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Apart from having fibroids what else can cause heavy mestrual bleeding?
I have had a scan and was told I have the smallest fibroids and they were not likely to cause me any problems. I’m however having really have menstrual bleeding and have to take Tranexamic Acid to control it which am not comfortable with as I have to take it every month for about four days. Just don’t want to be on any medication long term.

ANSWER:
I have heard of fibroid’s of all sizes, and they do cause more pain with periods, including more blood. if they are small, doctors are not to free in taking a woman’s uterus these days. Just make sure you keep checking them as they can attach to kidneys ect, then your in trouble.did he give you anything to shrink them, talk to your doctor again…

QUESTION:
Are fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia or polyps a precursor to cancer?
I’m 44 and had heavy menstrual bleeding. Ultrasounds and MRI showed three small fibroids, focal complex hyperplasia and polyps. I’ve been trying natural remedies which have improved menses dramatically, no longer heavy, nor as painful. Should I still have hysteroscopy or other procedure done, or does the resolution of symptoms mean I’m OK?

ANSWER:
Not a precursor to cancer. Chances are the pain and bleeding will return. Interuterine scraping is another option, but I hear it is painful and not always effective. Hysterectomy may be another option for you if you just want to be done all together.

QUESTION:
I have heavy monthly menstrual bleeding, I am 51. Is a D&C better than endometrial ablation?
My doc has run all tests, no fibroids, cancer, etc. He says I am Estrogen dominant and prescribed Prometrium (progesterone), have been on this for 6 months, little change. Doc says no need for hysterecotmy, don’t want one anyway. The bleeding is so long and so bad that I can no longer function 10 days each month. He prefers D&C even though results are temporary because he says there are glands in the uterus that may end up with cancer 20 or 30 years down the road. I’m leaning toward Endo Ablation because I’ve heard women have good results. Any info. regarding the two procedures would be appreciated.

ANSWER:
I had similar problems, very heavy periods. My gyn did a D&C and the next 2 months it was even heavier. He wanted to do a hysterectomy after that. I got a second opinion, resulting in me having an ablation. It was the best thing I could have ever done! I didn’t even have a period for about a year after that and since I started having one again it is very light (I usually only have to use a pantyliner) and only lasts 1-3 days.

QUESTION:
Is it normal to have low Hemoglobin and low B12 level, but my iron level is fine?
Could there be anyother reason other than my fibroids and heavy menstrual bleeding causing this?

I recently had a laproscopy done and the nurse noticed that my my hemoglobin level was 81 which were from my test reults which were taken two weeks prior to the surgery. They re-tested me that same day and my level was 82. The doctor was not too concerned as I have fibroids and I have very heavy bleeding most of the time during my periods and he said that is most likely why my hemoglobin is so low.

Anyways, went to my family doctor and she was shocked that it was so low, my hemoglobin in October of 2005 was 139 (that was the last time I had a blood test – I know that`s bad, shortly after that I started having really really heavy periods).
She put me on iron supplements and i had another blood test about two weeks later and my hemoglobin is now at 83, my B12 is low, but my iron levels are fine.

Any thoughts, feedback appreciated.

ANSWER:
This could still be related to the fibroids if you are bleeding a lot. These levels could be because of heavy bleeding if your periods are irregular.

I would recommend getting another opinion from a gyn that does not share the same office of the one you currently use to see what they think could be going on.

QUESTION:
Do women loses sexual desire after surgical removal of uterus?
My wife is 40 years old and is sexually very active. But due to development of fibroids and heavy menstrual bleeding, doctor prescribed removal of uterus sergically. My above question pertains to this. What will be physiological and phychological symptoms after uterus removal?

ANSWER:
Not exactly an answer to your question, but a hysterectomy is NOT necessary. There are some other options available:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibroids#Treatment

I had VERY heavy periods due to fibroids, and had the UAE at 41. The UAE immediately cured my heavy menses with a very short healing period and no side effects.

I highly encourage you and your wife to get a second opinion and a very good reason why a hysterectomy is necessary, before taking such an extreme action. Not all doctors do this, but some doctors treat hysterectomy as a profit-making enterprise.